Burris recently released a new pistol reflex red dot optic called the Burris FastFire C. The FastFire C was created for shooters who prefer a small, lightweight and durable optic for their carry pistols. Weighing in at under a half ounce, the FastFire C is ideal for firearm carriers to keep the overall pistol weight minimal while still having a capable optic on their gun.
Burris optics are known for having clear glass with a crisp and clear red dot, and the FastFire C is no different. It has a 6 MOA red dot, and the user has the option to choose auto brightness or use manual red dot intensity settings.
So now that we have the basic details out of the way, let’s mount this thing on a handgun.
What Pistol for this Red Dot?
I decided to mount the Burris FastFire C on my Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 OSP 9mm. The Burris FastFire C uses an RMSc mounting footprint, so I was able to mount it on the XD-S Mod.2 directly without the need of a specific mounting plate.
A direct mount keeps the optic profile low on the slide. This allowed the XD-S pistol’s iron sights to co-witness with the FastFire C’s red dot. Additionally, I wanted an optic that instilled confidence with a reputable manufacturer like Burris.
How Is the Burris FastFire C Different?
To keep the weight as low as possible, the FastFire C stepped away from the other Burris FastFire pistol optics by employing a durable composite polymer housing. It does have a glass lens.
The front of the optic has serration cuts for shooters who prefer to use the optic to charge the pistol. The red dot is 6 MOA and uses what Burris calls their “intelligent auto-bright system.” This will allow the optic to adjust depending on the environmental conditions. The auto-brightness feature will automatically intensify the dot in sunny conditions and decrease the red dot brightness in low-light conditions.
The user also has the option to manually adjust the red dot brightness by pressing a large button on the left side of the optic housing. The button will also turn off the red dot by pressing it for three seconds.
Powering Up
The FastFire C uses a CR2032 battery. The battery is seated in the bottom of the optic. Burris claims the battery has a 25,000 hour life when the optic is set for auto-bright. Of course, manually turning off the optic when not in use will extend the life substantially.
The optic is low profile as the housing sits fairly low, which allows for absolute or ⅓ co-witness with standard open iron sights. The rear of the housing is equipped with its own iron sights that are removable if preferred. In my case, the XD-S Mod.2 has a serrated black rear sight that is tall enough to co-witness with the red dot. Therefore, I felt no need to remove the iron sight installed on the optic.
They Made Their “Case”
Burris includes everything the user needs to successfully mount the optic to their pistol. The case includes two Allen wrenches; one for mounting and the other for adjusting the optic.
There are four sets of screws, a shim if needed, and a weather seal to keep moisture away from the battery. The case includes a user’s manual and a warranty card. Lastly, Burris includes a lens cloth and a protective rubber optic cover.
Range Time with the FastFire Red Dot Sight
I took the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 with the Burris FastFire C to the range several times before writing this review. After sighting in the red dot, the XD-S and FastFire C did exactly what I wanted. Both the pistol and optic performed well and, if I did my part, the shooting was very accurate.
The Burris FastFire C enhanced the range time with XD-S Mod.2. The clear red dot, easy adjustments and consistent holding of zero was essential to my accurate shooting. The more I shot the more my confidence grew, which was exactly what I was looking for in a quality-made handgun/optic combination.
Final Thoughts
The MSRP for the Burris Fastfire C is $276, which I believe is a fair price considering everything that is included in the case. And this is in addition to the dependability Burris optics offers.
So far, I am happy with my decision to go with the Burris FastFire C. I expect this optic will live a long and happy life with my Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 OSP.
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